Motor-car body and collapsible top therefor



,Aug. 21, 1923.

J. BOTELLA MOTOR CAR BODY AND COLLAPSIBLE TOP THEREFOR Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1922 Aug. 21, 1923. 465,594;

J. BOTELLA MOTOR CAR BODY AND COLLAPSIBLE TOP THEREFOR Filed March 8 1922 Fig.

Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

JACQUES fBor'EIJtA,

or PARIS, FRANCE,

Application fi1ed --March8, 1922'; semi "No. 542,093.

To alltuhomz'tmwy concemt- I Be it known that I, JAC UES BoTELnA, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at 3 Rue Georges Ville, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements, in a Motor-Gar Body and Collapsible Top There? for, of which the following is the specifica tion.

In the carriage bodies ofmotor cars of the torpedo type a housing is actually provided at the rear and on the sides of the rear seats, this housing being closed by a leather apron or a rigid cover and being adaptedto enclose the topwhen it is not in use. In these devices, the upper cover of the housing is removable so that it can be opened for allowing the passage of the hoops of the top; consequently there is a vertical joint which is not water tight. Besides, these devices have the inconvenience of permitting the jarring of the covers for the housing of the top, thus causing noise and in addition being diflicult to operate. 1

The present invention relates to a method of collapsing and housing the tops of motor cars, characterized in that the housing of the hood is closed at its upper part and'on three lateral sides by fixed partitions, the top being extensible upon the opening of a side movable partition provided with integral ledges forming butt-plates; the displacement of this movable partition which can be constituted by the rear seat permits of the removing of the top from the housing in order to effect an extension thereof.

By means of this method, the followingresults are obtained:

(1) a perfect water-tightness of the housing of the top, which no longer presents joints with vertical faces,

(2) a very great ease of operation,

(3) the suppression of noise caused by jarring. a

A practical form of execution in. which the side movable partition is constituted by the rear seat itself, is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a partial elevation showing the rear of a carriage body of the bridge type,

with the position occupied by the'top in its housing and in use.

Fig. 2 is an elevation similar to the pre vious one, showing the operation of unfolding the top.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding plan view showplates.

ingfthe shape of'the seat and the top collapsed and arranged in its housing Y 'Ffg 4c i a imilar view showing the'seat, V

whichis pivoted for leaving enough space for the unfolding of the hood.

In this form of execution, the top 0, when" it is not muse, is located-in a space ilimited laterally by the partition of the carriage body and at its upper part by'a roof is integral withthe carriage body and forming the rear of the bridge, which is inclined out- 'wardly for permitting water to flow away.

The rear seat m closes the housing or chest on the inside of the car. The top 0 is hinged at b, on an axis integral with the elbow rests of the seat m. For permitting its opening the latter is made movable, so as to leave a suflicient space between the carriage body and the said seat, through which the top will be unfolded. 4

The back of the seat and the elbow rests, when the top is in its housing, form butt- Besides, the width of the back of the seat is smaller than the width of the seat between the elbow rests, as shown in Figures 3 and a, so that by moving the seat m away from the housing or chest, a free space is left in which the top maybe unis put back into place so that'the lining Z extending beyond the seat fits on:the joints and renders the housing or chest completely water-tight.

The displacement of the seat m may take place longitudinally (Fig. 1) the seat being then mounted on rollers or slidesparallel to the sides of the car, or by rotation about an axis a (Fig. 2.) In the'latter case, the seat at is jointed by means of a hinge a secured to the cushion frame; consequently, .the'end of the back of the seat and the ,hoops of the top describe an arc of a circle and the top has so much thejmore room for being un-i folded as the pivoting of the seat is more accentuated. r

The operation of the device is asfollows: Supposing the top is in its housing, the seat m is pulled forward, or is subjeoted'to'a rotation about the axis a, until'the hoops of the topare removed from the housing. At

this moment, these hoops are, subjected to' such a rotation that they are completely placed in their normal position relatively to the seat, which is brought back to its initial position.

In case the seat moves on slides, it is first folded. 'Once this top is unfolded, the seat 8 i pulled forward to the required extent fOr permitting the rotation of the hoops of the top, their disengagement and their putting in position relatively to the s at; subsequently the seat is pushed back until it resumes its initial position. 7

it is to be noted that the device described can be applied in a similar manner to all other systems of carriage bodies.

What 1 claim asmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automobile body, in combination, a movable seat,- a collapsible top including bows pivoted to the lateral vsurfaces of the seat, a housing provided between the rear portion of the body and the seat for the lodgment of the top when collapsed, the seat bein adapted to occupy two positions,

one in W ich it permits the passage of the permit of the collapsing of the top and the.

arrangement of the top Within the housing,

and the seat being returnable to its initial position for concealing the top. 7

In testimony whereof I have signedrny name to this specification.

JACQUES BOTELLA. V 

